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GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Grand Rapids area citizens met with pastors, police and other community leaders Friday morning in efforts to find ways to stop the violence that has spiked in the city over the last couple of months.

"It's a problem that's taken years to get this way so we don't anticipate it'll go away tomorrow but we're definately going to start today" said Pastor Jermone Glenn of Revolution Church.

The "Stop It Community Initiative" met this morning. Watch the attached video for more details.

Several upcoming community meetings are scheduled. The list of those is below.

Community Formation Action Dialogue Sessions It is encouraged that individuals/organizations attend the following sessions as they pertain to their areas of passion and interest.

A Conversation With Youth & Youth Workers

Jan. 23rd @ 6:30pm

Youth Workers, Non Violent Youth And Gang Members
Rev. T. Evans (Edge Urban Fellowship), Quentin Henry (Urban Young Life), Jerry Bishop (LifeQuest) & MarShon Peoples (I.C.O.N.), Victor Williams (Hip Hop Coalition) will lead a conversation at LifeQuest Ministries to listen to youth and young adults ages 16-26 that live in the inner city regarding their concerns and needs. Two questions will be asked;

1) How has the recent community violence impacted your life?
2) What practical things can be done in the areas of: (Education, Law Enforcement, Churches, Community Programs, and Businesses/Jobs)

We are asking each organization to bring 2-5 youth and or young adults ages 16-26 that live in the core of the city.

Education and Community, Pledge Development
LINC will be leading a Community Forum at G.R. Ford Middle School located at 851 Madison Ave. For more information call Willie Patterson @ (616) 308-6315.

LINC will also be leading the Black & Brown Leadership Forum between the Hispanic and African-American community. For more information please contact Alicia Dorr (616) 451-9140

A Conversation With Clergy

Feb. 21st @ 5:30pm

IDMA, Congregational Care Ministry Development.
IDMA will lead a conversation with the clergy at Brown-Hutcherson Ministries located at 618 Jefferson. For more information please contact Brown-Hutcherson Ministries at (616) 988-2016.

A Conversation With The Urban League

Week of Feb. 25th

Mental Health, Brown & Black Conversation and Systems.
Rev. Joe Jones/The Grand Rapids Urban League has agreed to lead in the work of developing a systems level strategy to address the issue of community violence. Their work will consist of convening meetings with systems players whose work is directly tied to the physical, mental, economical, emotional, educational and social development of families.

The conversation will take place at the Urban League located at 745 Eastern Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. For more information please contact Rev. Joe Jones at (616) 245-2207.

A Conversation with LINC

Feb. 7th @ 5:30pm

Education and Community, Pledge Development
LINC will be leading a Community Forum at G.R. Ford Middle School located at 851 Madison Ave. For more information call Willie Patterson @ (616) 308-6315.

LINC will also be leading the Black & Brown Leadership Forum between the Hispanic and African-American community. For more information please contact Alicia Dorr (616) 451-9140

For clarity on any of the above conversations, feel free to reach Dr. Jermone Glenn at (616) 459-5900.